Haruya immediately awoke to the loud ringing of his alarm, the faint sunlight shining through his curtains.
Today was finally Christmas, and after the long night of anticipation, it was finally time.
He swung his legs out of bed, dressed up, and headed down to the kitchen, where the sweet smell of freshly baked goods lingered from last night.
Akari was already bustling around inside, packing the cake they had made together yesterday into a protective box.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," she greeted in a gentle tone. "Ready to showcase your masterpiece?"
Haruya scrubbed the back of his head. "Yeah… though I'm a bit nervous. I mean, it's just a cake, but—"
"Shh," Akari interrupted, teasingly poking his face. "It's the thought that counts, right? And you even went and baked a cake by yourself for your friend. Nagisa-chan, wasn't it?"
Haruya's eyes dodged. "Yeah… I just wanted to do a little something extra, especially for my Christmas gift."
Akari's face pouted. "Aww, look at you. My little boy is growing up and prioritizing someone else already. It makes me proud. but also a little sentimental, they grow up so fast!"
Haruya rolled his eyes and grabbed the smaller cake he'd carefully decorated himself. It was a small blueberry cake.
Soft and fluffy, surrounded by juicy berries and laced with lightly sweetened cream. A few berries on top and a dusting of powdered sugar that added a simple, homemade charm.
It was his first attempt at baking a cake by himself, and Haruya was definitely proud of it.
With both cakes secure and wrapped, he headed out. The winter wind swept across his cheeks as he made his way to Nagisa's home, his heart beating in rhythm with his footsteps.
Meanwhile, at the Kubo household, Nagisa was already dressed and practically vibrating with excitement.
She held her neatly wrapped gift in her hands, the tiny note Akina suggested tucked inside.
"I think… It's ready," she whispered to herself, smoothing the edges of the paper. "I hope he likes it…"
Akina leaned against the doorframe, pretending to scroll on her phone but clearly keeping an eye on her sister. "You'll be fine. You're just exchanging gifts, aren't you? Just remember, be more confident!"
Nagisa nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah. I just… hope it doesn't seem too weird."
Akina rolled her eyes. "Nagisa, your gift is perfect for a boy who loves to sleep in class. You should hurry before he arrives."
Nagisa giggled and grabbed her bag, clutching the gift tightly, and prepared to wait for Haruya outside the door. "Okay, okay! Don't follow me, Akina-nee."
Akina waved lazily. "I'll watch from here. But hurry back and tell me how it goes. I want every detail."
After saying this, Akina was clearly not being too honest with her sister.
She made a "hehe" sound and quietly tiptoed her way to the window and hid herself, sneaking a peek from behind the curtains.
A little later, Haruya walked briskly down the snowy streets, carefully carrying a box of cake in each hand. He looked at the Kubo house across the way, feeling his heart beat faster than it should.
'Okay… just hand it over and say Merry Christmas,' he muttered to himself. 'How hard can that possibly be?'
Approaching the house, he noticed Nagisa standing outside the door patiently.
Similarly, Nagisa noticed him coming and locked eyes with him for a few seconds, and finally called out to him.
"Haruya-kun! You… you brought it?" she asked, her voice hinting at a mix of expectation and happiness.
Haruya nodded, holding both boxes out carefully. "Yep. I baked it with Mom. It's for your family… and, well, the other is a cake I baked as a present. Merry Christmas, Nagisa."
Nagisa's cheeks turned pink, and she held out her gift. "I… I got something for you, too. I hope you like it."
They exchanged the gifts, and for a moment, neither moved. Haruya's hands were a little shaky from nervousness while Nagisa's heart raced—but neither could stop smiling.
"Let's open them together?" Haruya suggested.
Nagisa nodded eagerly. "Okay!"
Haruya carefully lifted the smaller box and opened it first. Inside sat the blueberry cake, its simple homemade charm evident—the cream slightly uneven, but the berries perfectly placed on top.
"I… I made this one myself," Haruya admitted, scratching the back of his head nervously. "It's not as fancy as the other one, but…"
Nagisa's eyes widened, her smile brightening instantly. "It's perfect, Haruya-kun! I love it! You made it yourself… that makes it really special." She reached out and gently touched the edge of the cake box, careful not to disturb it.
Haruya let out a small sigh of relief. "Really? You like it?"
"Of course! It's adorable. And I can tell you put a lot of effort into it." Nagisa's hands slightly trembled as she handed over her gift to him. "Now… here's yours."
Haruya unwrapped the neatly packaged hand warmer pillow. He held it up, turning it in his hands. It was soft, slightly squishy, and had a small note attached.
"Use this whenever you feel sleepy in class… or whenever your hands get cold. Merry Christmas, Haruya-kun."
"Do you... like it?" Nagisa carefully asked, observing his expressions.
Haruya nodded repeatedly. "Isn't this the perfect gift? Now I have finally something to lie on besides the hard desk!"
"Thank you, Nagisa-san."
Haruya gave a small shrug, hiding the slight warmth in his chest. "Well… I should probably head back soon. Mom's probably expecting me to help with the decorations and the rest of the preparations at home."
Nagisa nodded, though a little reluctantly. "Oh… okay. Be careful on the way back, alright?"
"Yeah, I'll be careful," Haruya said, smiling softly. "Merry Christmas again, Nagisa-san."
As he started to leave, Akina, who had been quietly watching from the window, slipped in through the slightly open door with a teasing grin. "Hehe… look at you, little sister. All bright-eyed over a boy's gift."
Nagisa groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Akina-nee! I told you not to peek! Stop teasing me!"
Akina chuckled, leaning against the wall. "Relax. It's cute. Besides… I got to see the whole exchange. Don't tell me you didn't enjoy it."
Nagisa huffed, but couldn't hide the small smile creeping onto her face. "Maybe a little…"
Shifting the attention, Nagisa carefully opened the larger cake box Haruya had brought, the one baked with his mother. The rich, sweet aroma of strawberries and cream with freshly baked sponge spilled out, filling the living room.
"Wow…" Nagisa whispered, eyes wide. "It smells amazing."
"How about we go try it out?" Akina asked.
"Okay."
The two of them headed inside the kitchen and took out plates and utensils.
Nagisa carefully took a small slice, lifting it onto her fork. The first bite melted in her mouth—the cake was soft, the cream perfectly balanced, and the strawberries fresh and sweet.
Her eyes nearly sparkled. "It's delicious!"
Encouraged, she reached for the blueberry cake Haruya had made himself. She bit into it, and her expression lit up just as brightly. "This one too! Haruya-kun made this? It's amazing! It's soft, sweet, and… perfect!"
Akina finally stepped closer and took a small forkful of the cake made by Haruya and his mother. She chewed thoughtfully, then her eyes widened. "Whoa… this… this is incredible! The flavor, the texture… wow. Your friend, Haruya, wasn't it? He's pretty lucky to have a mom who can make a cake as good as this!"
Nagisa laughed, shoving a little piece of the blueberry cake toward Akina. "You should try this one too. Haruya-kun made it himself!"
Akina took a bite and immediately nodded in approval, her eyebrows raising. "Not bad at all... really impressive! The kid's got talent, and clearly he inherited some from his mom too."
"Now I'm starting to worry whether a pillow was really enough as a gift," Akina pondered.
Nagisa shook her head. "Don't worry, Akina-nee, he definitely liked it. It's easy to tell from his eyes."
"If you say so... Why don't we save this for tonight and share it with mom and dad? I hear uncle and auntie are visiting with Saki as well."
"Okay!"